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Monday, November 4, 2013

Pets can get diabetes too: Pet Diabetes Month

This is Trouble.

Trouble was my family's cat. He came to us after being taken from his mother at a young age. We weren't planning to keep him, but many of you know how that goes.

He grew to be a big, grouchy Siamese. He loved my mom most, he and I would fight (why lay on your back if you don't want a belly rub?). But after about 10 years he started to lose weight rapidly. The doctor said he had diabetes.

The doctor didn't think he needed insulin, I guess, because he just had mom buy the special food. But it was right around the pet food scare, and Trouble's food ended up on the recall list.

I'll never forget when my parents' told me that Trouble died at home. I cried and cried.

Diabetes is on the rise in dogs and cats. There are different factors -- genetics, obesity, pancreas-related illnesses like pancreatitis can add to the issue. But how many of us really know much about how diabetes in cats and dogs?

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, but it's also Pet Diabetes Awareness Month.

All this month, we'll be taking a closer look at diabetes in cats and dogs -- from the diagnosis to every day life with a diabetic pet, to preventing diabetes.

We'll have giveaways too. Stay tuned for that.

I interviewed a number of experts for this series. They include:

Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM

Dr. Joe Bartges of the University of Tennessee Veterinary College

Dr. Anna Coffin, DVM

Steve from SlimDoggy

Please share this infographic with your friends, and help spread the word about diabetes in cats and dogs. The earlier people recognize the symptoms, the better it will be in treating the disease.